A Fulton County judge on Tuesday allowed the Atlanta Public Schools board to accept its chairman's resignation and elect new leadership, and a superintendent candidate withdrew, narrowing that selection to two people.
Superior Court Judge John J. Gogerwas asked on Monday to release board members from a portion of a consent order he issued last year that required current leaders, including Chairman Khaatim Sherrer El, to remain in place until Dec. 31. The judge issued the order during a lawsuit among board members.
At the same time, Barbara M. Jenkins, an Atlanta native and deputy superintendent of schools in Orange County, Fla., removed herself from consideration to replace outgoing superintendent Beverly Hall. An APS spokesman confirmed Jenkins' action, but had no comment.
Candidates still in contention are Cheryl L.H. Atkinson, superintendent of Lorain City Public Schools in Ohio, and Bonita Coleman-Potter, deputy superintendent of Prince Georges County Public Schools in Maryland.
El announced last month he would resign as chairman as long as the judge released the board from that timeline. El's departure comes as the board tries to coalesce behind new leadership and regain full accreditation. He will remain a regular member of the board, which was put on probation in January for infighting.
Vice Chairwoman Cecily Harsch-Kinnane will also step down from leadership but remain a regular member. Harsch-Kinnane, however, was not considered nearly the divisive presence as El was perceived to be by members.
The board had already planned to meet Monday to continue its accreditation work, and an election of new board officers could take place. The board also could call an emergency meeting this week to take action, given the members' preference to move quickly. Yet no such meeting had been scheduled as of late Tuesday.
As for the APS superintendent search, Superintendent Ronald Blocker of Orange County late last week noted that Jenkins, even with her Atlanta ties, would find it hard to leave Orange County, where she got her start as a teacher and has spent most of her 25-plus years in education.
Blocker spoke positively about her leadership skills, acumen and readiness to be a superintendent. Blocker, who is retiring next year, also acknowledged, that if she stayed, Jenkins would likely be a top candidate to replace him.
Atlanta school board members on Monday made tentative plans to bring their superintendent finalists to the city as soon as next week. Those plans presumably remain, and are notable because they raise the possibility that residents may know by mid-July who will be their next school chief.
The visits would happen over the course of two days, depending on the candidates' availability. One day would involve private interviews with board members. The public would be invited to meet the candidates the next day, as the district hosts community meetings. District officials would also arrange to give the candidates select tours of APS schools and facilities.
The tentative dates for next week are either Tuesday and Wednesday, or Wednesday and Thursday. The board's backup plan is to bring candidates to the city July 12-13, according to discussion by members Monday. Presuming the candidates come sooner, the board also indicated that it could decide as soon as its next regular business meeting July 11 who it wants for the job.
Hall leaves as APS superintendent on June 30. Erroll Davis, who retires the same day as University System of Georgia chancellor, has agreed to serve as interim superintendent starting July 1 until a permanent replacement is named. Davis' contract will be finalized over the next couple of weeks, including how much the board will pay him.
The three finalists, picked from an overall field of 70, were all seasoned educators, experienced in systems of more than 100,000 students and well-versed in urban school reform efforts. They were also unknown in national education circles. None had led a major urban school system. Members chose them after conducting private interviews earlier this month with them and two other candidates.
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